Studying public policy

Policy science is a discipline concerned with knowledge of the policy process and of the relevance of knowledge in the process. It requires the development of concepts and measures to strengthen links at the policy level and to make them effective in ensuring conformity between forecasting, planning, decision-making, and action; and between values and these activities. These links include: norms, linking values to the process of rational creative action; links among the activities of the process of rational creative action; the feedback loop between policy formation and action, dynamic values and norm configurations, and induced changes in the environment.

Policy sciences integrates knowledge from a variety of branches of knowledge into a supra-discipline focusing on public policymaking. In particular, policy sciences are built upon behavioural sciences and analytical approaches, relying also on decision theory, general systems theory, management sciences, conflict theory, strategic analysis, systems engineering, and similar modern areas of study. Physical and life sciences are also relied upon, insofar as they are relevant. Integration between pure and applied research is achieved by acceptance of the improvement of public policymaking as the ultimate goal. In essence, policy sciences are directed at explicit reconstruction of policymaking through conscious meta-policymaking